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Rock-Cut Temples of India: Architectural Masterpieces from the Deccan and Beyond

Elephanta Caves — 2025 — WHED0B3E7F2D8

Rock-cut temples of India, including those at Elephanta Caves, represent a pinnacle of ancient and medieval architectural innovation, blending technical mastery with profound religious expression. These structures, carved from living rock, document centuries of artistic evolution, patronage, and cross-cultural exchange, serving not only as devotional spaces but also as platforms for political messaging and technological advancement. A study published in the Journal of Asiatic Society for Social Science Research highlights the significance of major Deccan complexes such as Ajanta, Ellora, Badami, and Elephanta, contrasting monolithic designs like Ellora’s Kailasa with modular cave architectures such as Ajanta’s chaityas. The research underscores the temples' role in ritual, social functions, and artistic experimentation while addressing contemporary conservation challenges posed by environmental stress, urbanization, and tourism pressure. Strategies for safeguarding these fragile monuments are also outlined.

Rocky intertidal monitoring: 2021–2022 results from Redwood National and State Parks

Redwood National and State Parks — 2025 — WHE3283F9BE18

Monitoring of rocky intertidal ecosystems in Redwood National and State Parks from 2021 to 2022 revealed dynamic changes in populations of key species, including sessile invertebrates, algae, ochre sea stars (Pisaster ochraceus), surfgrass (Phyllospadix spp.), and sea palm (Postelsia palmaeformis). The study, part of the Multi-Agency Rocky Intertidal Network (MARINe) and funded by the National Park Service, employed permanent plots and transects to track annual trends. While populations fluctuated, the data contribute to long-term biodiversity assessments, with broader analyses available in 5-year trend reports. The study also incorporated optional MARINe protocols, though some measurements may be discontinued in future years.

Role of an Eco-tour Guide Certification System in SustainableEcotourism on Amami-Oshima Island, Japan

Amami-Oshima Island, Tokunoshima Island, Northern part of Okinawa Island, and Iriomote Island — 2025 — WHE157B7BCEE9

A certification system for eco-tour guides on Amami-Oshima Island, Japan, shows potential to promote sustainable ecotourism but requires stronger enforcement and broader stakeholder involvement. The study found that while certified guides contribute significantly to tourism quality and frequency, the current voluntary approach lacks penalties for misconduct and fails to address unqualified operators effectively. Introducing legal frameworks and engaging both guides and local residents in regulatory discussions, alongside third-party accreditation, could enhance the system's effectiveness. This research highlights the need for a balanced approach that aligns with regional autonomy while ensuring environmental protection.

Role of positive and negative tourism impacts in shaping residents’ support for sustainable religious tourism: a case study of Lumbini, Nepal

Lumbini, the Birthplace of the Lord Buddha — 2025 — WHE305B19F136

Residents of Lumbini, Nepal, prioritize economic benefits over environmental concerns when supporting religious tourism, revealing a complex trade-off mindset. A household survey conducted between September 2022 and January 2023 found that social, cultural, and economic advantages significantly influence local attitudes toward tourism, even in the face of ecological drawbacks. This nuanced perspective challenges unidimensional assessments and strengthens the explanatory power of Social Exchange Theory. The study suggests that disaggregating positive and negative impacts provides deeper insights into resident perceptions, offering actionable guidance for policymakers to balance tourism development with sustainability while fostering community engagement.

Role of Social Media in Promoting Tourism: A Study on Selected Tourist Locations in Telangana

Kakatiya Rudreshwara (Ramappa) Temple, Telangana — 2025 — WHE6470C172AF

Social media significantly influences tourist decision-making, with user-generated content, influencer promotions, and official tourism campaigns playing pivotal roles. A study on Telangana's tourist destinations—including the UNESCO-listed Kakatiya Rudreshwara (Ramappa) Temple—revealed that these digital elements shape preferences for accommodations, transportation, dining, and attractions. Using quantitative methods like surveys and statistical analysis (multiple regression, ANOVA), researchers tested three hypotheses to assess social media's impact on domestic and international tourists. The findings underscore the importance of strategic social media use in destination branding and visitor engagement, offering actionable insights for tourism marketers and policymakers.

Roman Temporary Camps in the Area of Sarmizegetusa Regia

Dacian Fortresses of the Orastie Mountains — 2025 — WHE455FD6CE5E

Recent archaeological discoveries in the Orăștie Mountains have uncovered three previously unknown Roman temporary camps near Sarmizegetusa Regia, the ancient Dacian capital. These findings significantly expand our understanding of the region's complex landscape, which includes Dacian fortresses and Roman fortifications. Using advanced technologies and topographical surveys, researchers identified these camps, contributing to a broader map of military encampments linked to pivotal confrontations in European antiquity. The study highlights the dynamic interplay between Dacian and Roman forces during this critical period.

Rooting the heritage identity in the interior design of homes in the city of Shibam, Hadhramaut - Yemen

Old Walled City of Shibam — 2025 — WHE1613298FDA

A study on the Old Walled City of Shibam, Hadhramaut, Yemen, reveals a robust design system for interior spaces that can preserve the city's heritage identity. The research analyzes vocabulary and elements of traditional Shibami dwellings, which are at risk due to structural issues like cracks and collapses in mud buildings. By documenting these features, the study provides a framework to revitalize and sustain the cultural significance of Shibam, recognized by UNESCO as an endangered World Heritage Site since 2015. The approach combines analytical methods with a focus on heritage preservation, offering insights that could guide conservation efforts while maintaining the city's historical and human heritage value.

Rural tourism the path of empowering rural Development special reference to Santal tribal villages near Santiniketan ,West Bengal

Santiniketan — 2025 — WHEA6D7FF0728

Rural tourism emerges as a powerful strategy for socio-economic development and environmental sustainability, particularly in remote or underdeveloped regions. This study demonstrates its potential to address rural challenges such as poverty, migration, and livelihood diversification by analyzing the impact of rural tourism on tribal villages near Santiniketan, West Bengal. The research highlights how tourism can preserve cultural heritage while improving infrastructure, income generation, and quality of life for marginalized communities like the Santal tribe. By examining socio-economic conditions and future prospects in Ballavpur Danga, the study underscores rural tourism's role in fostering sustainable development and stabilizing populations. It provides a model for integrating tourism with heritage conservation in backward districts.

S G ang Gwaay and World Heritage preservation in a time of climate change

SGang Gwaay — 2025 — WHEF2EDC549BE

A critical tension emerges between Indigenous beliefs and global conservation priorities at S G ang Gwaay, a UNESCO World Heritage site on Haida Gwaii. The Haida community's refusal to engage in invasive preservation—preferring the natural return of the site's totem poles and structures to the earth—clashes with standard heritage conservation practices. This conflict highlights a fundamental challenge within the World Heritage program: balancing the interests of rights-holding communities, which may not align with site longevity, against the urgent need for preservation in the face of accelerated degradation due to climate change. The study examines this dilemma through the lens of S G ang Gwaay's management history and argues that climate change will force a compromise, if one is reached at all.

S-LINK – future oriented inner-city transport project of the climate and energy transition

Historic Centre of the City of Salzburg — 2025 — WHE88665E4BEB

Salzburg's historic city center faces chronic traffic congestion that hinders mobility and sustainability. The proposed S-LINK project aims to address this by extending the local railway network underground through the city, offering a seamless connection to existing public transport. This innovative approach must navigate unique challenges posed by Salzburg's mountainous terrain, the Salzach River, and its densely built-up, heritage-rich old town. The project is subject to rigorous environmental impact assessments (EIA) due to its significant cultural and architectural implications, requiring compliance with multiple regulatory frameworks including railway law, water law, nature conservation, and monument protection. The first section of the S-LINK, spanning 843 meters from Salzburg's main train station to Mirabellplatz, includes a 628-meter double-track tunnel and a new station, all built on challenging ground conditions characterized by thick gravel layers over fine-sand and silt sediments with high water content. The study emphasizes the technical and logistical complexities of integrating modern railway infrastructure within a historic urban landscape while mitigating impacts on noise, vibration, groundwater, and air quality for residents.

Sacred Geometry of Hampi: Exploring Proportions and Temple Measurements

Group of Monuments at Hampi — 2025 — WHE4B8C947E02

Temple architecture in Hampi, India, adheres to a sacred and consistent geometric design system rooted in the Āyādi–Ṣaḍvarga measurement framework. This study reveals that proportions and spatial arrangements—applied to pillars, garbhagriha (shrine rooms), and towers—were not only functional but also deeply symbolic, encoding spiritual significance. Through geometric mapping and alignment analysis of multiple Vijayanagara-era temples, researchers identified recurring patterns that underscore the region's architectural coherence. The findings suggest a deliberate design system that shaped both sacred space and aesthetic expression, blending ritual symbolism with structural precision.

Sacred Networks and Spiritual Resilience: Sustainable Management of Studenica Monastery’s Cultural Landscape

Studenica Monastery — 2025 — WHE7AE2885B8C

Research at Studenica Monastery reveals that spiritual resilience—rooted in sacred networks of architecture, art, and religious practices—serves as a dynamic mechanism for sustaining cultural landscapes. The study demonstrates how these elements, coupled with ecological stewardship, form a socio-ecological system that enhances biodiversity while mitigating land-use conflicts. By integrating historical mapping, GIS analysis, and multidisciplinary data synthesis, the findings highlight the overlap between sacred sites and protected ecological zones, offering replicable strategies for UNESCO sites globally. This approach reframes heritage as an adaptive process, aligning with SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities).

Saint Queen Ketevan's Relics in Old Goa: Research and Archaeological Works

Churches and Convents of Goa — 2025 — WHE30FD5E73A7

Archaeological research in Old Goa has uncovered fragments of the urn that once held the relics of Saint Queen Ketevan, along with those of two Augustinian friars. These discoveries, made in 2004 and 2006, provide rare physical evidence of a significant historical artifact lost after the convent's decline in the 19th century. The study contextualizes these findings within the broader cultural heritage of Old Goa, highlighting their importance for understanding the architectural and religious history of the region. By analyzing the remnants of the urn and its ornamentation, researchers have shed light on the fate of Queen Ketevan’s relics, which were venerated in the Augustinian Convent of Our Lady of Grace during the Portuguese colonial era.

Samos – Berlin – Moskau

Pythagoreion and Heraion of Samos — 2025 — WHE05B5BFE4C6

A significant discovery of an ancient bronze tripod leg, previously unpublished and found in the Pushkin Museum's special depot in Moscow, sheds new light on the artistry and craftsmanship of archaic Greece. This rare, well-preserved artifact, dating to around 500 BCE, was unearthed near the Rhoikos Altar in Samos' Heraion and features intricate engravings of animals and mythical creatures. Its unique combination of solid-cast legs with engraved designs sets it apart from known examples. The study also uncovered a previously unknown drawing of this piece in Berlin's Antikensammlung archives, providing further context. Stylistic comparisons suggest its origin could be from a West Asian or Ionian workshop, possibly Samian or Milesian, and hint at its possible use as either an offering or sacred vessel.

San Giovanni dei Lebbrosi

Arab-Norman Palermo and the Cathedral Churches of Cefalú and Monreale — 2025 — WHE0799FD7166

San Giovanni dei Lebbrosi, a 12th-century church in Palermo, Italy, exemplifies the architectural fusion of Norman and Arab influences during the Norman conquest. Originally attached to a leprosarium founded by Robert Guiscard and Roger I de Hauteville in 1071, the structure features austere, massive solidity and transenna windows, reflecting strong Arabic stylistic elements. Although scarce documentation complicates precise dating, historical records suggest its completion well after Palermo's conquest, with a leprosarium added by Roger II in 1119 to honor his half-brother Geoffrey, who died from leprosy. Over time, the church and hospital were managed by various religious orders, including the Teutonic knights. The study highlights the cultural synthesis of Norman-Arab architecture while emphasizing the historical significance of the site's association with leprosy care.

Sanctuaries between Materiality and Mentality

Pythagoreion and Heraion of Samos — 2025 — WHE796B83B581

Sanctuaries, such as the Pythagoreion and Heraion of Samos, serve as critical lenses for understanding the interplay between materiality and mentality in ancient societies. This study highlights how archaeological research on sanctuaries—focusing on their architectural elements, cult objects, and ritual remains—can be linked to immaterial aspects like rituals, social interactions, piety, and emotions. By integrating methods from social anthropology, religious studies, and cognitive science, the research reveals deeper insights into the symbolic significance of these sites, emphasizing the role of senses such as sound and smell in shaping religious experiences.

Sanitary Logging in the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve: One Problem, One Legislation but Different Criteria and Different Treatments

Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve — 2025 — WHE0FD1A15C2C

A stark discrepancy exists in the management of bark beetle outbreaks within the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve, driven by differing criteria and treatments despite shared federal legislation. While Michoacán reports a high incidence rate of 41 outbreaks per km²—triggered even by a single infested tree—Estado de México's stricter threshold (three or more trees) results in just 1.5 outbreaks per km². This study, employing qualitative analysis through 21 semi-structured interviews, reveals that the differences stem from local administrative and technical procedures, exposing potential legal inadequacies. The findings underscore the need for unified, conservation-focused strategies to address bark beetle management, rather than relying solely on sanitary logging, which may be influenced by non-conservation interests.

Sassanid Artifacts in Western Iran

Bisotun — 2025 — WHEB0099D5ED6

Western Iran emerged as a pivotal region during the Sassanid Empire, characterized by its strategic significance and architectural grandeur. The presence of monumental structures such as Bisotun, Taq-e-Bostan, and Qasr-e-Shirin underscores the empire's focus on this area, driven by favorable climate and fertile lands. These sites, including palaces, caravanserais, rock carvings, and bridges—particularly those commissioned under Khosrow Parviz—highlight the Sassanids' ambition and power. The study identifies key buildings like Taq-e-Shirin, Farhad-e-Tarash Wall, and Bisotun Bridge, analyzing their functions and the empire's motivations for development in this region. Employing a library-based, descriptive-analytical approach, the research addresses two central questions: the purpose behind each structure's construction and the reasons for Sassanid attention to western Iran. This work offers insights into the empire's architectural achievements and regional strategies.

Satellite-Derived Multi-Temporal Palm Trees and Urban Cover Changes to Understand Drivers of Changes in Agroecosystem in Al-Ahsa Oasis Using a Spectral Mixture Analysis (SMA) Model

Al-Ahsa Oasis, an Evolving Cultural Landscape — 2025 — WHEB8CC8467E3

A significant decline in palm tree cover, critical for agroecosystem stability in the arid Al-Ahsa Oasis, was quantified using multi-temporal satellite data (1990–2020). The study found a 14.24% reduction in vegetation fraction, with mean values dropping from 0.79 to 0.37, alongside substantial urban expansion (up to 0.807%). Spectral Mixture Analysis (SMA) and Principal Component Analysis (PCA) revealed strong correlations between urban sprawl and palm tree loss, threatening the oasis's agricultural productivity. This research underscores the need for strategic land management to mitigate environmental impacts in rapidly urbanizing arid landscapes.

Scan-to-BIM strategies and standards for HBIM purposes. A case study

Cathedral, Alcázar and Archivo de Indias in Seville — 2025 — WHE28698E5F87

A study on the Alcázar of Seville’s Almohad tower identifies strategic approaches to Scan-to-BIM workflows tailored for Heritage Building Information Modeling (HBIM), addressing gaps in existing literature. It highlights how documentation strategies vary based on intended HBIM model purposes, integrating standards derived from epistemological frameworks. The research demonstrates that achieving specific Levels of Detail (LOD) depends not only on technical workflows but also on the purpose-driven selection of techniques, offering practical insights for architectural heritage preservation.